Hi Mike,

Great to see your name pop up again, but don't apologise for the late reply - the forum is here, as and when you want to post.

I see in your post to Gaynor that your mum is now well recovered from her surgery, but you're naturally starting to think (and worry) about your mum's next stage of treatment. I can understand how hard it must be for your dad too. It sounds as if you and your siblings are doing a great job spoiling your mum! 

The wedding signpost is finally finished - I don't think it would win any prizes for craftsmanship, but a lot of love and thought has gone into the making of it and remarkably, it doesn't fall over! 

I'll be sending positive thoughts to you and your mum for Monday - let us know how things are going and take care of yourself, Jo xx

As a newly diagnosed cancer sufferer I admire and agree with your mums thoughts on worring about it.

We cant change whats happening we just have to get on with it. I think that its easy to hear the word cancer and panic.

I know my daughters have cried for me and ive cried too.  I dont know how my sons have dealt with the situation, But the greatest gift is to take each day as it comes.

I was discussing illness with my grandson, 17, whose mum has just been diagnosed with a brain tumour. He asked about the cancer I have and spoke about his feelings about his mum and me. He was feeling a bit guilty for not worrying all the time about us. I said that is such a gift, as the worry will not make any different to the outcome except to take our energy. We agreed to take each day as it comes and help out if needed. Most of all to take the happiness we could from life.

Hi aemi

Sorry it's been so long since I posted here. You are right to take everything one day at a time. Focus on one goal and keep going. Everyone deals with it in their own way. Just focus on having the best day you can each day.

I hope everyone is well and doing the best they can 

It will be 4 years since my mum was diagnosed with a glioblastoma and despite the 1-2 years life expectancy she is still here! (Something she loves reminding here oncologist!)

After the surgery she went through her cycle of chemotherapy and radiotherapy which was brutal. Afterwards, she was unable to walk, having seizures and was very fatigued. It was quite hard to care for her as there was nothing you could do other than just wait and hope things improved. Thankfully they did and she was walking unaided and the seizures have stopped (thanks to upping her dose of kepra). Neurologically she was amazing, still completing crosswords and sudoku.

After repeated scans showing no signs of the tumor we thought we were almost in the clear. January of this year, a scan showed another glioblastoma growing on the opposite side of the brain. It was far enough away from the original tumor that it could be treated as a new disease. We've been told this is almost unheard of. My mum went through the same thing again. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy. It was such a hammer blow.

Due to where the tumor was and the surgery she is weak and numb on her right hand side, particularly her right leg. 

She has just finished her last round of pulse chemotherapy and is very fatigued and her mobility is limited.

But we did it once, we can do it again. In the four years she's survived, she has seen my brother graduate, my sister get engaged and later married, and, in may, she will see her first grandchild.

Sorry for the massive essay but I just felt that I needed to summarize what had happened these past 4 years. It doesn't tell the whole story but I hope some people reading this will see that a long survival time is possible with a good quality of life, and to just keep fghting this disease.

As a carer its been extremely hard. I have to thank everyone on this forum for the help I received at the start of all this. You are amazing people and helped me get through one of the most difficult times.

Due to the nature of this disease, we live month by month.  But we keep going and I hope I've given some insight to people facing this disease or caring for someone with it. It will be tough, but I wouldn't trade the last four years I've had with my mum for anything.